On Wednesday, November 25th, Gdynia E(x)plory Week started – the celebration of science and innovation. The event, due to the epidemic restrictions in force, takes place online and lasts for three days, till November 27th. The event consists of three elements: Science and Technology Festival – addressed to school children and youth, E(x)plory National Science Competition Final – for young researchers who participated at regional stages of the competition and XI E(x)plory Congress – addressed to teachers, school principals and people linked to education in any capacity.

Professor Ada Yonath, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, is a special guest this year. The High Tech Foundation is the organizer, whereas University of Gdansk is the partner of Gdynia E(x)plory Week 2020.

Part of the Science and Technology Festival is distributing (in the Expo zone of the festival) the mini-lecture by dr Alicja Chmielewska from Laboratory of Virus Molecular Biology at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, titled ‘The ABC of Virology’, where the speaker explains viruses in layman terms – how they are built, how they enter human cells and what methods scientists use to test them in labs. Dr Chmielewska also explains how antiviral vaccines work, including next generation mRNA and vector-based vaccines.

Festival guests will have a chance to see a movie explaining work of a Physical Oceanographer created by Operational Oceanography Student Research Club (KNOO).

The footage created during a midterm break is a form of summarizing Club’s actions. The field work included environmental sampling and underwater photography of the inner part of Puck Bay with the use of remotely operated vehicle.

The University of Gdansk is also present on the event’s website with its promotional slogan - ‘More than a university’.

Details and registration: https://www.explory.pl/2020/

Translation: Adam Myzyk